African Folktales

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Somali folktales

A black crow perched on a tree branch in a Somali folktale

The Black Crow

by Elizabeth Fabowale

African Folktales·East African Folktales

Long ago, before the sky was full of birds as we know them today, there was a sheikh, a wise priest who served the people. At that time, he was not a crow at all, he was a bright, shining white bird, pure and respected. People trusted him because he spoke for Wak, the Sun God, and carried their messages

Clever fox tricking a lion near a herd of cattle- A Somali Folktale

African Folktales·East African Folktales

Why the Fox Lost Everything

Long ago, when animals lived and worked together as if they were people, there was a fox named Deya Ali. She was clever, but her cleverness was filled with deceit. The lion was her uncle, and he ruled as king over many creatures. They all lived together: the lion, the

Deya Ali, the clever fox, standing near a village with a jar of flies and a pile of meat - Somali folktale

How the Clever Fox Fooled the Villagers in Somalia

Long ago, in a Somali village, there lived a fox named Deya

A brave Somali girl sitting on a tree branch near a lake with a mortar in her hands, while a lion and wild animals search below - Somali folktale

The Girl and the Lion

Once upon a time, in a village by the vast Somali plains,

A cannibal woman disguised in a villager's clothes standing at a village doorway at night - Somali folktale

The Cannibal Woman

African Folktales·East African Folktales

Long ago, in a Somali village, there lived a terrifying woman who ate people. The villagers feared her. They whispered warnings to their children and told travelers to be

A magical talking head resting on a tea shop counter in a Somali village

The Magical Head

African Folktales·East African Folktales

Long ago, in a faraway village, there lived a man with two wives. His first wife was honest, hardworking, and kind. She did everything well, caring for the home

Mohammed Hassan and Deka in a Somali village, surrounded by camels and goats - Somali folktale

How Mohammed Hassan Learned Not to Be Too Shy

African Folktales·East African Folktales

Once upon a time, in a village by the wide Somali plains, there lived a young boy named Mohammed Hassan. He had lost both his father and mother when

Boy and his mother walking across cracked, dry land toward a distant village – Somali Folktale

The Cracked Land of Drought

African Folktales·East African Folktales

Once upon a time, a mother and her young son began a long journey to visit her married daughter far away. They set off early in the morning, carrying

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